Home


Substack
LinkedIn
Mail

I’m a designer and researcher with a participatory and community-centered practice. Read more









RSA Student Design Awards
Awarded CIM Award

LASALLE College of the Arts 

2020

COHO was designed as a response to alleviate the economic insecurity of single parents in Singapore. Through research and speaking to various stakeholders, we identified the unequal access to public housing as a major stressor that exacerbates any existing economic issues that single-parents face.

‘COHO’ is a two-year transitional housing service and community that provides low-income single parent households with stable and comfortable housing at an affordable rate alongside provision of educational resources and support in order to lead them towards self-reliance.




Research

“I remember HDB said that on an exceptional basis, on a good will gesture, we’ll give you a house. That got me upset because she is Singaporean – she should be given a house. Why do we have to say on compassionate grounds, on goodwill, to make the person feel so bad about herself?!”
Mr Louis Ng recounting a single mother’s experience applying for a rental home with HDB.




Family Nucleus

A family nucleus is defined as married couples (with or without children), divorced and widowed persons with full legal custody, care and control over their children.

According to the Housing & Development Board (HDB) Public Scheme in 2020
Based on the 2020 RSA Student Design Awards brief – Just About Managing, my group and I designed a response to alleviate the economic insecurity of single parents in Singapore. 

Through two months of research and speaking to various stakeholders, the unequal access to public housing was indentified as a major stressor that exacerbates any existing issues that single-parents face.




Stressors


1. Lack of recognition as a family nucleus



The definition of a family nucleus, under the HDB Public Scheme, excludes single parents. As a result they are exempt from the full entitlements of the Baby Bonus, Parenthood Tax Rebate (PTR) and most significantly, the eligbility requirement for flats and housing grants under the families scheme.

2. Excluded from Housing Schemes



Even if single-parents wait till 35 to apply for a house under the singles scheme, the maximum grant they can receive is $80,000 – half of a traditional family nucleus. They are also left out of schemes that cater specifically to divorced or widowed persons.

3. Lesser Childcare Subsidies




Although basic infant care and childcare subsidies are the same for all parents, the Additional Subsidy is only granted to parents who work 56 hours/month. This can make all the difference for many low-income parents who are taking on flexible, but often low-paying jobs in order to fulfill caregiving responsibilities.






Building Layout



This diagram illustrates the layout of the first three stories of the building and how the user personas, David and Julia interact with the spaces throughout the day. The building is divided into two – the right side representing night and the left side representing the day.



Application 


Unlike conventional means testing, this application process takes a more qualitative approach that aims to understand the unique challenges of each family instead of depending on income caps and quantitative values. The programme also includes an educational portion that aims to empower them with practical skills through a variety of financial literacy and effective parenting workshops that they can customise according to their needs.







Education 


The programme also includes an educational portion that aims to empower parents with practical skills through a variety of financial literacy and effective parenting workshops that they can customise according to their needs.